Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure Part 24

As a homely remedy it is especially given for coughs accompanied with abundant thick expectoration, and for chronic asthma. In Norfolk scarcely a cottage garden can be found without its h.o.r.ehound corner; and h.o.r.ehound beer is much drunk there by the natives. h.o.r.ehound tea may be made by pouring boiling water on the fresh leaves, an ounce to a pint, and sweetening this with honey: then a winegla.s.sful should be taken three or four times in the day.

Or from two to three teaspoonfuls of the expressed juice of the herb may be given for a dose.

Candied h.o.r.ehound is best made from the fresh plant by boiling it down until the juice is extracted, [268] and then adding sugar before boiling this again until it has become thick enough of consistence to pour into a paper case, and to be cut into squares when cool. Gerard said: "Syrup made from the greene fresh leaves and sugar is a most singular remedy against the cough and wheezing of the lungs. It doth wonderfully, and above credit, ease such as have been long sicke of any consumption of the lungs; as hath been often proved by the learned physicians of our London College."

When given in full doses, an infusion of the herb is laxative. If the plant be put in new milk and set in a place pestered with flies, it will speedily kill them all. And according to Columella, the h.o.r.ehound is a serviceable remedy against the Cankerworm in trees: _Profuit et plantis latices infundere amaros marrubii_.

The Marrubium was called by the Egyptian Priests the "Seed of Horus" or "the Bull's Blood" and "the Eye of the Star." It was a princ.i.p.al remedy in the Negro Caesar's Antidote for vegetable poisons.

The Black h.o.r.ehound (_Ballota nigra_), so called from its dark purple-coloured flowers, is likewise of common growth about our roadsides and waste places. Its botanical t.i.tle comes from the Greek _ballo_, to reject, because of its disagreeable odour, particularly when burnt. The herb is sometimes known as Madwort, being supposed to act as an antidote to the bite of a mad dog. In Beaumont and Fletcher's _Faithful Shepherdess_, we read of:--

"Black h.o.r.ehound, good For Sheep, or Shepherd bitten by a wood-dog's venomed tooth."

If its leaves are applied externally as a poultice, they will relieve the pain of gout, and will mollify angry [269] boils. In Gotha the plant is valued for curing chronic skin diseases, particularly of a fungoid character, such as ringworm; also for diseases of cattle.

"This," says Meyrick "is one of those neglected English herbs which are possessed of great virtues, though they are but little known, and still less regarded. It is superior to most things as a remedy in hysteria, and for low spirits." Drayton said (_Polybion_, 1613):--

"For comforting the spleen and liver--get for juice, Pale h.o.r.ehound."

The Water h.o.r.ehound (_Lycopus_), or Gipsy wort, which grows frequently in our damp meadows and on the sides of streams, yields a black dye used for wool, or silk, and with which gipsies stain their skins, as well as with Walnut juice. "This is called Gipsy Wort,"

says Lyte, "because the rogues and runagates, which name themselves Egyptians, do colour themselves black with this herbe."

Each of the h.o.r.ehounds is a l.a.b.i.ate plant; and this, the water variety, bears flesh coloured flowers, whilst containing a volatile oil, a resin, a bitter principle, and tannin. Its medicinal action is astringent, with a reduced frequency of the pulse, and some gentle sedative effects, so that any tendency to coughing, etc., will be allayed. Half-an-ounce of the plant to a pint of boiling water will make the infusion.

HORSE RADISH (_Radix_, a Root).

The Horse Radish of our gardens is a cultivated cruciferous plant of which the fresh root is eaten, when sc.r.a.ped, as a condiment to correct the richness of our national roast beef. This plant grows wild in many parts of the country, particularly about rubbish, and the sides of ditches; yet it is probably an introduction, [270] and not a native. Its botanical name, _Cochlearia armoracia_, implies a resemblance between its leaves and an old-fas.h.i.+oned spoon, _cochleare_; also that the most common place of its growth is _ar_, near, _mor_, the sea.

Our English vernacular styles the plant "a coa.r.s.e root," or a "Horse radish," as distinguished from the eatable radish (root), the _Rapha.n.u.s sativus_. Formerly it was named Mountain Radish, and Great Raifort. This is said to be one of the five bitter herbs ordered to be eaten by the Jews during the Feast of the Pa.s.sover, the other four being Coriander, h.o.r.ehound, Lettuce, and Nettle.

Not a few fatal cases have occurred of persons being poisoned by taking Aconite root in mistake for a stick of Horse radish, and eating it when sc.r.a.ped. But the two roots differ materially in shape, colour, and taste, so as to be easily discriminated: furthermore the leaves of the Aconite--supposing them to be attached to the root--are not to be mistaken for those of any other plant, being completely divided to their base into five wedge-shaped lobes, which are again sub-divided into three. Squire says it seems incredible that the Aconite Root should be mistaken for Horse Radish unless we remember that country folk are in the habit of putting back again into the ground Horse Radish which has been sc.r.a.ped, until there remain only the crown and a remnant of the root vanis.h.i.+ng to a point, these bearing resemblance to the tap root of Aconite.

The fresh root of the Horse radish is a powerful stimulant by reason of its ardent and pungent volatile principle, whether it be taken as a medicament, or be applied externally to any part of the body. When sc.r.a.ped it exhales a nose-provoking odour, and possesses [271] a hot biting taste, combined with a certain sweetness: but on exposure to the air it quickly turns colour, and loses its volatile strength; likewise, it becomes vapid, and inert by being boiled. The root is expectorant, antis...o...b..tic, and, if taken at all freely, emetic. It contains a somewhat large proportion of sulphur, as shown by the black colour a.s.sumed by metals with which it comes into touch.

Hence it promises to be of signal use for relieving chronic rheumatism, and for remedying scurvy.

Taken in sauce with oily fish or rich fatty viands, sc.r.a.ped Horse radish acts as a corrective spur to complete digestion, and at the same time it will benefit a relaxed sore throat, by contact during the swallowing. In facial neuralgia sc.r.a.ped Horse radish applied as a poultice, proves usefully beneficial: and for the same purpose some of the fresh sc.r.a.pings may be profitably held in the hand of the affected side, which hand will become in a short time bloodlessly benumbed, and white.

When sliced across with a knife the root of the Horse radish will exude some drops of a sweet juice which may be rubbed with advantage on rheumatic, or palsied limbs. Also an infusion of the sliced root in milk, almost boiling, and allowed to cool, makes an excellent and safe cosmetic; or the root may be infused for a longer time in cold milk, if preferred, for use with a like purpose in view.

Towards the end of the last century Horse radish was known in England as Red cole, and in the previous century it was eaten habitually at table, sliced, with vinegar.

Infused in wine the root stimulates the whole nervous system, and promotes perspiration, whilst acting likewise as a diuretic. For rheumatic neuralgia [272] it is almost a specific, and for palsy it has often proved of service. Our druggists prepare a "compound spirit of Horse radish," made with the sliced fresh root, orange peel, nutmeg, and spirit of wine. This proves of effective use in strengthless, languid indigestion, as well as for chronic rheumatism; it stimulates the stomach, and promotes the digestive secretions. From one to two teaspoonfuls may be taken two or three times in the day, with half a winegla.s.sful of water, at the end of a princ.i.p.al meal, or a few minutes after the meal. An infusion of the root made with boiling water and taken hot readily proves a stimulating emetic. Until cut or bruised the root is inodorous; but fermentation then begins, and develops from the essential oil an ammoniacal odour and a pungent hot bitter taste which were not pre-existing.

Chemically the Horse radish contains a volatile oil, identical with that of mustard, being highly diffusible and pungent by reason of its "myrosin." One drop of this volatile oil will suffice to odorise the atmosphere of a whole room, and, if swallowed with any freedom, it excites vomiting. Other const.i.tuents of the root are a bitter resin, sugar, starch, gum, alb.u.men, and acetates.

A mixture of the fresh juice, with vinegar, if applied externally, will prove generally of service for removing freckles.

Bergius alleges that by cutting the root into very small pieces without bruising it, and then swallowing a tablespoonful of these fragments every morning without chewing them, for a month, a cure has been effected in chronic rheumatism, which had seemed otherwise intractable.

For loss of the voice and relaxed sore throat the [273] infusion of Horse radish makes an excellent gargle; or it may be concentrated in the form of a syrup, and mixed for the same use--a teaspoonful, with a wine-gla.s.sful of cold water.

Gerard said of the root: "If bruised and laid to the part grieved with the sciatica, gout, joyntache, or the hard swellings of the spleen and liver, it doth wonderfully help them all." If the sc.r.a.ped root be macerated in vinegar, it will form a mixture (which may be sweetened with glycerine to the taste) very effective against whooping cough. In pimply acne of the skin, to touch each papula with some of the Compound Spirit of Horse Radish now and again will soon effect a general cure of the ailment.

HOUSE LEEK (Cra.s.sulaceoe).

The House Leek (_Sempervivum tectorum_), or "never dying"

flower of our cottage roofs, which is commonly known also as Stone-crop, grows plentifully on walls and the tops of small buildings throughout Great Britain, in all country districts. It is distinguished by its compact rose-shaped arrangement of seagreen succulent leaves lying sessile in a somewhat flattened manner, and by its popularity among country folk on account of these bland juicy leaves, and its reputed protective virtues. It possesses a remarkable tenacity of life, _quem sempervivam dic.u.n.t quoniam omni tempore viret_, this being in allusion to its prolonged vitality; for which reason it is likewise called Ayegreen, and Sengreen (_semper_, green).

History relates that a botanist tried hard for eighteen months to dry a plant of the House Leek for his herbarium, but failed in this object.

He afterwards restored it to its first site when it grew again as if nothing had interfered with its ordinary life.

[274] The plant was dedicated of old to Thor, or Jupiter, and sometimes to the Devil. It bore the t.i.tles of Thor's beard, Jupiter's eye, Joubarb, and Jupiter's beard, from its ma.s.sive inflorescence which resembles the sculptured beard of Jove; though a more recent designation is St. George's beard.

"Quem sempervivam dic.u.n.t quoniam viret omni Tempore--'Barba Jovis' vulgari more vocatur, Esse refert similem predictoe Plinius istam."

_Macer_.

The Romans took great pleasure in the House Leek, and grew it in vases set before the windows of their houses. They termed it _Buphthalmon_, _Zoophthalmon_, and _Stergethron_, as one of the love medicines; it being further called _Hypogeson_, from growing under the eaves; likewise _Ambrosia_ and _Ameramnos_. The plant is indigenous to the Greek Islands, being sometimes spoken of as "Imbreke" and "Home Wort."

It has been largely planted about the roofs of small houses throughout the country, particularly in Scotland, because supposed to guard against lightning and thunderstorms; likewise as protective against the enchantments of sorcerers; and, in a more utilitarian spirit, as preservative against decay. Hence the House Leek is known as Thunderbeard, and in Germany _Donnersbart_ or _Donderbloem_, from "Jupiter the thunderer."

The English name House Leek denotes _leac_ (Anglo-Saxon) a plant growing on the house; and another appellation of its genus, sedum, comes from the Latin _sedare_, to soothe, and subdue inflammations, etc.

The thick leaves contain an abundant acidulous astringent juice, which is mucilaginous, and affords malic acid, identical with that of the Apple. This juice, in a dose of from one to three drams, has proved [275] useful in dysentery, and in some convulsive diseases.

Galen extolled it as a capital application for erysipelas and s.h.i.+ngles.

Dioscorides praised it for weak and inflamed eyes, but in large doses it is emetic and purgative.

In rural districts the bruised leaves of the fresh plant or its juice are often applied to burns, scalds, contusions, and sore legs, or to scrofulous ulcers; as likewise for chronic skin diseases, and enlarged or cancerous lymphatic glands. By the Dutch the leaves are cultivated with a dietetic purpose for mixing in their salads.

With honey the juice a.s.suages the soreness and ulcerated condition within the mouth in thrush. Gerard says: "The juice being gently rubbed on any place stung by nettles, or bees, or bitten by any venomous creature, doth presently take away the pain. Being applied to the temples and forehead it easeth also the headache and distempered heat of the brain through want of sleep."

The juice, moreover, is excellently helpful for curing corns and warts, if applied from day to day after they have been sc.r.a.ped. As Parkinson teaches, "the juice takes away cornes from the toes and feet if they be bathed therewith every day, and at night emplastered as it were with the skin of the same House Leek."

The plant may be readily made to cover all the roof of a building by sticking on the offsets with a little moist earth, or cowdung. It bears purple flowers, and its leaves are fringed at their edges, being succulent and pulpy. Thus the erect gay-looking blossoms, in contrast to the light green foliage arranged in the form of full blown double roses, lend a picturesque appearance to the roof of even a cow-byre, or a hovel.

[276] The House Leek (_Sedum majus_), and the Persicaria Water-pepper (Arsmart), if their juices be boiled together, will cure a diarrhoea, however obstinate, or inveterate. The famous empirical _anti-Canceroso nostrum_ of Count Mattaei is authoritatively said to consist of the _Sedum acre_ (Betony stone-crop), the _Sempervivum tectorum_ (House Leek), _Sedum telephium_ (Livelong), the _Matricaria_ (Feverfew), and the _Nasturtium Sisymbrium_ (Water-cress).

The _Sedum Telephium_ (Livelong, or Orpine), called also Roseroot and Midsummer Men, is the largest British species of Stone-crop. Being a plant of augury its leaves are laid out in pairs on St. John's Eve, these being named after courting couples. When the leaves are freshly a.s.sorted those which keep together promise well for their namesakes, and those which fall apart, the reverse.

The special virtues of this _Sedum_ are supposed to have been discovered by Telephus, the son of Hercules. Napoleon, at St.

Helena, was aware of its anti-cancerous reputation, which was firmly believed in Corsica. The plant contains lime, sulphur, ammonia, and (perhaps) mercury. It remains long alive when hung up in a room. The designation Orpine has become perversely applied to this plant which bears pink blossoms, the word having been derived from _Orpin_, gold pigment, a yellow sulphuret of the metal a.r.s.enic, and it should appertain exclusively to yellow flowers.

The Livelong _Sedum_ was formerly named Life Everlasting. It serves to keep away moths.

Doctors have found that the expulsive vomiting provoked by doses of the _Sedum acre_ (Betony stone-crop), will serve in diphtheria to remove such false membrane clinging in patches to the throat and tonsils, [277] as threatens suffocation: and after this release afforded by copious vomiting, the diphtheritic foci are prevented from forming again.

The _Sedum Acre_ (or Biting Stone-crop) is also named Pepper crop, being a cyme, or head of flowers, which furnishes a pungent taste like that of pepper. This further bears the names of Ginger (in Norfolk), Jack of the b.u.t.tery, Gold Dust, Creeping Tom, Wall Pepper, p.r.i.c.ket or p.r.i.c.k Madam, Gold Chain, and Biting Mouse Tail. It was formerly said "the savages of Caledonia use this plant for removing the sloughs of cancer."

The herb serves admirably to make a gargle for scurvy of the gums, and a lotion for scrofulous, or syphilitic ulcers. The leaves are thick and very acrid, being crowded together. This and the _Sedums alb.u.m_ and _reflexum_ were ingredients in a famous worm-expelling medicine, or _theriac_ (treacle), which conferred the t.i.tle "Jack of the b.u.t.tery," as a corruption of "_Bot. theriaque_."

The several Stone-crops are so named from _crop_, a top, or bunch of flowers, these plants being found chiefly in tufts upon walls or roofs. From their close growth originally on their native rocks they have acquired the generic t.i.tle of _Sedum_, from _sedere_ (to sit).